With Halloween approaching, what better time to dive into the haunted places on Vancouver Island? Known for its rich history and vibrant culture, the island is also steeped in eerie legends and ghostly tales. From old hotels with reports of strange apparitions to historic sites that have left visitors with an unsettling feeling, Vancouver Island has no shortage of haunted places that continue to captivate locals and ghost hunters alike.
The following list highlights some of the most talked-about locations where the paranormal seems to linger. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, these stories have stood the test of time and continue to stir up curiosity.
This post is purely for entertainment, and while I’ve done my research, I’m not here to prove or disprove any ghostly encounters. It’s up to you to decide if these tales of haunted places on Vancouver Island are true!
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Haunted Places on Vancouver Island: Victoria
Victoria is known for being the most haunted city in BC, and many businesses fully embrace this title as a draw for tourists. There are even ghostly walking tours available for your enjoyment. Below, you'll find information about some of Victoria's more famous haunted places.
#1. Bastion Square and Helmcken Alley
This area is said to be Victoria's most haunted, as almost every building and alleyway around this historic square has a ghost story or two.
Many years ago, a jailhouse was located on Helmcken Alley. The area is now home to the ghosts of prisoners who were tossed into the jail's graveyard and forgotten about.
The most prominent spirit who frequents the alley is a man in old prison attire, with chains shackled to his wrists and ankles. There are also several reports of people hearing rattling chains while walking around the square.
Sources:
#2. Rogers Chocolates
Located on Government Street, this chocolatier is famous for more than its deliciously decadent chocolates. The store is said to be haunted by its original owners, Charles and Leah Rogers. They haunt the kitchen after the building is locked up for the night.
There are tales of staff finding trails of chocolate strewn across the floor when they arrive in the morning, even though everything was put away and cleaned up the night before.
There have also been sightings of an unexplained child's handprint mysteriously appearing on a mirror above the entrance door. This mirror is not reachable by most adults, let alone a child.
Sources:
#3. Empress Hotel
Built between 1904 and 1908, the Empress Hotel is the most famous and oldest structure in Victoria. With age comes many ghost stories and tales.
Several ghosts wander the halls of this historical landmark. I haven't heard whether or not the ghosts continued to stay through the most recent renovations. 😉
The unwanted occupants include:
- An elderly woman in pyjamas who knocks on guests' doors.
- Sir Francis Rattenbury, the hotel's architect, wanders around with his cane.
- A construction worker who hung himself during a restoration in the late 1950s
- Lizzie McGrath, a chambermaid who died at the hotel in 1910, has been spotted on several occasions still cleaning rooms on the sixth floor.
- A little girl who used to haunt one particular room now leads people to an elevator where the room once was.
Sources:
- Reader's Digest
- West Coast Living Canada (blog) – Read the comment section of this post, for there are even more ghost stories from the Empress Hotel.
- Flight Centre Travel Blog
#4. St. Ann's Academy
Located on Humbolt Street, this 158-year-old historic site was once Victoria's first Roman Catholic Cathedral.
In 1974, the Public Works Department of the BC government purchased the building from the Sisters of St. Ann, and it was used as office space. The site suffered years of minimal maintenance, and the City of Victoria eventually condemned the building. It was restored and renovated in the late 1980s and is now available for public use.
This former convent school is said to be haunted by the nine nuns who are now buried in the cemetery on the property.
The ghost of Emily Carr, Victoria's famous artist and writer, has also been seen wandering the grounds.
Emily Carr's ghost frequents other locations around Victoria, including her home at 207 Government Street and the James Bay Inn.
Sources:
#5. Craigdarroch Castle
This prominent castle, owned by a wealthy Scottish immigrant named Robert Dunsmuir, was built in the shadow of tragedy. Four months into construction (starting in 1887), the castle's architect, Warren Williams, died of an enlarged heart.
Then, In 1889, with the castle's completion still one year away, Dunsmuir mysteriously died from a terrible cold. Five months later, Dunsmuir's 2nd daughter died of the Typhoid Fever that had ripped through Nanaimo.
Plenty of paranormal activity has been reported at Craigdarroch Castle. It's said that the odd visitor gets such an uneasy feeling upon entering that they decide to walk straight back out again.
Here are some of the more frequent sightings:
- Faint piano music heard in certain rooms
- Sightings of a woman dressed in a white ball gown on the main staircase
- A young girl roaming in the basement
- Objects that move on their own
- A strong smell of candle wax first thing in the morning, even though no candles are lit
Sources:
#6. Hatley Castle
This beautiful National Heritage Site is located in Colwood, in the Greater Victoria area. Completed in 1908, Hatley Castle was built for James Dunsmuir, a former politician and lieutenant governor of BC (and son of Robert Dunsmuir mentioned above). The castle was home to the family until the late 1930s.
In 1940, the Dominion Government purchased the estate for a Naval Training Academy and College. It was in operation until 1995. Then, it was turned over to Royal Roads University and is now used as their administration office. The castle houses Royal Roads staff and a few unwanted guests.
Numerous sightings of ghosts have been reported at the castle, which is said to be haunted by its former residents, the Dunsmuir family. Many of the sightings happened when cadets still had dorm rooms in the castle.
There are tales of an old woman grasping onto the foot of one of the cadets, stories of seeing a crying girl who would mysteriously float out towards the sea, and the ghost of a young maid who died while employed by the Dunsmuirs'.
More recent sightings and phenomena include hearing the chime of a bell that isn't there and doors and windows opening and closing on their own. One of the more eerie stories is about a ghost following a family home after visiting the castle.
Sources:
- Royal Roads University
- Creepy Canada (YouTube video)
#7. Ross Bay Cemetary
Ross Bay Cemetery has stories of ghostly encounters dating back over a century. Established in 1872, this historic site is the final resting place of notable figures like Emily Carr and Robert Dunsmuir. Yet, it’s the restless spirit of David Fee, who was tragically murdered on Christmas Eve in 1890, that reportedly still lingers. Many visitors have claimed to see Fee’s apparition wandering the grounds, adding to the cemetery’s eerie reputation.
Given its age and the number of historical figures buried there, it’s not surprising that Ross Bay Cemetery is believed to be haunted. Cemeteries, with their deep ties to both life and death, are naturally linked to paranormal stories, and Ross Bay is no exception. For ghost hunters and history buffs alike, it offers a fascinating mix of the supernatural and the historical.
Sources:
Haunted Cowichan Valley
#8. Old Stone Butter Church
This long-abandoned stone structure was built in 1870 by Father Peter Rondeault, a Roman Catholic missionary. It was built high on the hill of the Comiaken Indian Reserve with the help of the local Cowichan native tribe. The helpers were paid through the sale of butter churned by the priest – hence the name.
Ripley's Believe it or Not once did a piece on this church, stating it was never officially used and that every worker who helped build it died mysteriously. That story is untrue, for the church was used exclusively for ten years until the new St. Ann's Church at Tzouhalem was built in 1880.
Over the last 140-odd years, it has been repeatedly vandalized and has developed a reputation for being haunted. There are stories of ghosts following people home, strange sounds within the church, and eerie feelings of being watched while wandering around the grounds.
Sources:
- YouTube Video
- Cowichan Culture
- Toad Hallow Photography (for eerie photos)
Haunted Places Vancouver Island: Nanaimo
#9. Newcastle Island
Newcastle Island is located via a short boat ride away from the Nanaimo Harbour and has the reputation of possibly being the most haunted island in the Pacific Northwest.
The small island was used as a smallpox colony in the early 1800s, resulting in a few deaths. As well, in 1887, a massive explosion trapped and killed 150 miners in the coal shafts underneath Newcastle Island. Their bodies were never recovered.
Kanaka Pete
The most famous piece of history, however, is of Kanaka Pete.
As the story goes, Peter Kakua, a Hawaiian immigrant labourer (known as Kanakas), worked as a coal miner in Nanaimo. He met and married his wife, Que-en, who was of Aboriginal descent, and together they had a daughter. Shortly after the birth of their daughter, Que-en decided to leave Peter and threatened to take their baby with her. In a state of grief, Peter drowned his sorrows in booze. Later that night, in a drunken stupor, he found his beloved wife in bed with her father.
In a fit of rage, Peter wielded an axe and killed his wife, their daughter, his father-in-law, and his mother-in-law. Realizing what he had done, he attempted to escape to Vancouver by canoe, first stopping on Newcastle Island. This is where he was captured. He was later hung at Gallows Point on Protection Island and was buried in an unmarked grave on Newcastle Island.
It is said that Kanaka Pete haunts the east side of Newcastle Island, and his ghost has been seen on the beaches at dusk. His unhappy spirit has been rumoured to be responsible for the disastrous mine explosion of 1887.
There are also a few stories of people disappearing from Newcastle Island after going to the far side at night.
Sources:
- Tourism Nanaimo
- Haunted North America
- Shaw TV (YouTube video)
#10. Beban House
The Beban House is well known for its hauntings.
The log-sided mansion, which sits on 160 acres on Bowen Road, was built by leading timber baron Frank Beban in 1930. A year after Mr. Baron's death (in 1952), the City of Nanaimo purchased the estate. But for 35 years, the house was neglected to the point of it possibly being demolished.
In the early 1990s, the architectural style was decided to be unique to Vancouver Island and listed on the historical register.
In recent years, the house has been used as a daycare, a mobile office for the RCMP, and a home to Tourism Nanaimo. Most recently, it was the home of the local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club and the current office of the Nanaimo Clippers.
The hauntings centre around a young Chinese servant who was accidentally killed in the house while employed by the Beban family.
The unexplained phenomenon at Beban House includes:
- Hearing a ball bounce down the stairs late at night
- A cupboard in Frank Beban's trophy room that opens on its own, and refuses to close
- Filing cabinet drawers opening on their own
- Keys going missing
- Locked doors and windows opening on their own
- Sounds of teacups clanking
- Chatter being heard when the house was empty
- Children playing with a small boy whom adults cannot see (sightings happened while the daycare inhabited the house)
- Water taps turning on by themselves.
- An apparition of a woman
- A cat escaping a locked room
- A strange and eerie feeling of being watched when entering the basement
Sources:
- Prairie Specters
- Nanaimo Bulletin
- If More Walls Could Talk: Vancouver Island's Houses from the Past by Valerie Green, Lynn Gordon-Findlay (2004)
Final Thoughts on The Hauntings of Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island’s haunted places are steeped in stories that blur the lines between history and the supernatural. Whether you’re a ghost enthusiast or simply enjoy a good spooky tale, these eerie locations offer a glimpse into the island’s more mysterious side. From chilling encounters in historic buildings to unexplained happenings in quiet corners, the stories surrounding these haunted places continue to capture the imaginations of many.
Have you ever experienced anything spooky at any of the places mentioned above? Share your stories of the most haunted places on Vancouver Island in the comments below. We’d love to hear your spine-tingling encounters!
Books You May Enjoy about Haunted Places on Vancouver Island
If you love reading about these haunting tales, check out my e-book, Victoria Unveiled. Inside the digital pages, I share the history of many of Victoria's famous landmarks and include a few good ghost stories about each.
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Hi Kim,
Just doing some research on black creek area in the comox valley after being told by a girl tonight that she had gotten into a car accident near there and had no idea how her car had gone off the road. This specific area has always felt strange to me and wondering if there was any information on that. Thanks! Lacid
Oooh, I don’t have any info on that area as far as hauntings go. But now I’m intrigued!
Hey Kim!
Another really haunted place on Vancouver Island is Alert Bay. It’s a small island off of the north end of Vancouver Island and it was an old First Nations burial ground before it was inhabited. It also had a residential school built on it, though it has been knocked down in the past few years. It is well known as haunted by not only tame ghosts but some angry ones too. Even my family and one of our friend’s families had interactions with the ghost, though only our friend’s ghosts seemed to be angry and hostile.
Interesting! Thank you for sharing your story, Maria. We were there a few years ago and didn’t have any ‘interactions’, but I also wasn’t aware that the island was haunted. Great to know!
Interesting about the Empress.my daughter is very intuitive and around Halloween we decided to come down fromLadysmith and do the haunted ghost walk We stayed at the Empress my 2 teenaged daughters in one room and my young son and I in the room next to them. About 3 am in the morning there was a knock on our door I opened the door slightly with the chain on and it was my daughter standing there saying she cant find her room in her clothes nothing with her. I closed it quickly to unhook the lock then when I opened it again she was gone so quick. My son and I asked her in the morning where did they go that late and they said they went to bed about 11. Neither daughter said they got up for any reason and thought we were kidding. We explained the knock was so loud it woke both my son and I up. My daughter said she never left the room and if she was sleepwalking she would need a key. Then I read about the old lady who wanders around looking for her room because where this old ladies room use to be its an elevator now. The strange thing was when I went to work right after that I told a co worker about it and she went to the crew room and said she had just read the article about the old lady and showed it to me. A coincidence?
Oh wow, that is a very eerie story! Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
My mother and her sister lived at st. Ann’s during the war and she always told us the story of sister Mary Selsus. Sister Mary was one of my moms favourites and when she died my mom who was 12 had to sit with the body overnight. She remembered the body “sighing” several times then the candles at her head went out. For the rest of the time at the convent my mother swore she could hear sister Mary’s voice when she walked down the staircase.
Oh wow, this one brought me chills! Thank you so much for sharing this story with us.
There is also a “woman in white” who haunts Mt Sicker Road between Duncan and Chemainus.
Interesting! Thank you for sharing that information, Barb.
Hi Kim,
I’m in England but was telling my son who lives in Victoria about the haunted places. He is a golf pro at Victoria golf club and asked if you’d mention them. apparently a body of a murdered lady was washed up by the seventh green and she haunts the grounds. Sometimes he says the clubhouse has a strange feeling as well.
Loving the info you post , helps make our to do list for our next trip whenever that may be.
Thank you, Karen! No, I didn’t know about the ghost at Victoria Golf Club. I think I may write another article with all of these suggestions in the near future. I am so glad you enjoy the articles and that you find them helpful.
There’s definitely a ghost at the Parksville Museum. Items will be moved; lights on or off – anyone who is sensitive to other worldly beings will immediately sense a presence on the grounds……..
Thank you for sharing this!
Missed the Heriot bay inn on quadra island
Oh, I didn’t know about that one. Thank you!
I have had many experiences at Craigdarroch. The main stairs gives me an I’ll feeling every time I have visited. I have also heard the music.
Oooh, that’s so neat! Thanks for sharing your experience with us all.
my son was doing security for the inn..just a few years back..one night he saw the little boy in an upstairs window
Was that at the Quality Heritage Inn Anita?
I stayed at the old English inn back in 1976 on my honeymoon and experienced window open curtains blowing when the window was closed and early hours of the morning I felt my legs go numb I couldn’t get up out of the bed after been awaken and when finally able to move husband took me to hospital but there was nothing wrong with me when we went back 35 years later asking the hotel staff re the event they did confirm strange visitations have occurred there in various rooms at the time it was called the king Edward room now the rooms are just no names
Thank you so much for sharing that information with us Salone! What a creepy experience! Is the Old English Inn located in Victoria?